San Diego is, quite literally, at the end of the pipe. We don’t have the same level of local water resources as other parts of the state, which means every decision we make about supply carries weight. Not just for today, but for the long-term future of our region.For a long time, the focus was on securing reliable water. That work was necessary, and it has put us in a strong position. But the environment we’re operating in today looks different. Demand has shifted. Climate variability continues to challenge how we plan. And the margin for error is smaller than it used to be.What that means is we have to think differently about how we manage water.

Over the past several years, we’ve seen a shift in the San Diego region. Population growth has slowed, and at the same time, people across our communities have done an excellent job conserving water. We’re also bringing new supplies online through the work of our member agencies. When you put all of that together, the result is something we have not always had in this region. We have more flexibility in our water supply. That creates an opportunity for us to take a step back and look at how we manage our resources moving forward.